Rail-bond.



w. H. WHBRRY RAIL BOND.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1905.

1,002,348, Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

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COLL IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII C- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. WHERRY, OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO.

RAIL-BOND.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. VVHERRY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of East Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rail-Bonds, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to rail-bonds for electrically connecting the adjacent ends of contiguous rails, and to methods for making such bonds.

The object of my invention is to produce by an economical and expeditious method of manufacture a bond that will effect such connection of rails in an eflicient and durable manner.

The 'bond embodying my invention is particularly adapted for use in a process for bonding rails in which the bond is secured to the rails by brazing, soldering, or similar means, and it embodies a number of improvements over the various types of bond at present used for this purpose, such improved features of construction being hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention, such means constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing: Figure 1 represents a completed bond in perspective; Figs. 2 and 3 represent such bond in the process of manufacture, Fig. 3 being a plan view from above of a partially completed bond, while Fig. 2 shows in cross section and perspective a portion of the same bond out in two upon the plane indicated by the line 22 in Fig. 3.

The completed bond as shown in Fig. 1 comprises two foot portions, A, A, adapted to rest flat against the surface of the rails which it is desired to connect, and an intermediate flexible and extensible portion, A, having the form of an arch, composed of a number of separate strands or narrow strips, a, of, the material employed. These strands or strips a are all part of one continuous strand or strip that has been wound around a flat winder, or reel, to form an elongated coil as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Such coil,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 14, 1905.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

Serial No. 265,168.

it will be observed, comprises a number of superimposed layers or convolutions, each including a plurality of turns of the strand laid down side by side. The direction in which such strand is laid is, of course, reversed upon the completion of each succeeding layer or convolution of the coil, so that the turns of the strand in any one layer are diagonally disposed relatively to the turns of the strand in an adjacent layer. The number of such convolutions as well as their width, which depends upon the number of separate strands in each one, may be varied to give any current-carrying capacity to the bond being constructed.

It is, of course, not essential that the continuous strand or strip be wound in any such precise and regular manner as has just been described, but such winding I find gives the most compact as well as the most durable bond, as individual strands are thus less likely to be broken during the subsequent steps in the manufacture of the bond, or when the bond is aflixed to the rails and in actual use. The interweaving secured in effect by laying the strand in opposite direc tions in each successive layer, serves moreover to firmly bind the different layers together as well as the several turns in each layer, and is of distinct advantage when it comes to forming the foot portions of my bond as will be evident.

The coil, formed as above described, is placed in a forming die in a press, and then compressed together to form a neat, compact bundle, the portions near the ends, a where the contiguous strand has been doubled back upon itself, being pressed flat and the intermediate portion being bent into the form of an arch, so that the whole presents substantially the appearance shown 1 in Fig. 1. The flat ends, or feet, as I shall call them, are then dipped or immersed into molten copper, or other metal of conductivity equal to or greater than that of which the bond is made and of substantially the same degree of fusibility. This molten metal fills the interstices between the strands in the feet and by slightly fusing them leaves such ends practically solid pieces of metal, which are later drop forged in dies to a uniform size and shape, any excess of metal being trimmed off. By dipping the bond terminals in molten copper as just described, while the strands composing such bond are solidly fused together, only a. thin coating of the metal is left on the outside. This result it is impossible to attain by casting, for the use of the metal in quantity suflicient to form riveting lugs or the like, as in the older type of bond, would be wasteful, and if only enough be employed to form the thin shell desired, the latter will chill and no homogeneous terminal at all secured.

The order in which the above operations in the manufacture of the bond are performed. need not necessarily be the same as that here outlined. Thus, for instance, the feet may be formed immediately upon winding, and the bond shaped afterward.

The bond as described above is ready for use unless it be desired to attach solder to that face of each of the feet which is designed to rest against the rail in the factory instead of in the field. Such operation, however, is not set up as an essential step in the manufacture of my improved bond.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the means herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any one of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A rail-bond consisting of a strand of conducting material wound into a coil, such coil having in each of its convolutions a plurality of turns of said strand.

2. A rail-bond consisting of a continuous strand or strip of conducting material wound into a coil having superimposed layers, each such layer comprising a plurality of turns of said strand.

3. A rail-bond consisting of a continuous strand or strip of conducting material wound into a coil having superimposed layers, each such layer comprising a plurality of turns of said strand, and said strand being laid in opposite directions in each such layer so as to be diagonally disposed relatively to the turns of said strand in the adjacent layers.

4:. A rail-bond comprising a body-portion formed of the parallel portions of a flattened coil or copper strand, such coil having a plurality of turns of such strand in each of its convolutions; and foot-portions formed of the ends of such coil and a quantity of copper interposed therein and made homogeneous therewith.

Signed by me, this 25th day of May, 1905.

WVILLIAM H. VVHERRY. Attested by- JNo. F. OBERLIN,

G. W. SAYWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. G. 

